WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:11.920 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to see is true. 00:11.920 --> 00:31.640 The names have been changed to protect the innocent. 00:31.640 --> 00:32.640 It was Tuesday, August 22nd. 00:32.640 --> 00:34.920 We were working the day watch out of burglary division. 00:34.920 --> 00:35.920 My partner's Frank Smith. 00:35.920 --> 00:37.800 The boss is Captain Wisdom. 00:37.800 --> 00:38.800 My name's Friday. 00:38.800 --> 00:40.800 A wave of thefts had broken out in the city. 00:40.800 --> 00:42.520 There was no pattern to the thief's operations. 00:42.520 --> 00:43.600 There were no leads. 00:43.600 --> 00:45.320 The number of thefts kept growing. 00:45.320 --> 01:08.320 We had to stop them. 01:08.320 --> 01:14.120 Sorry to have kept you boys waiting, but I had to sign these papers. 01:14.120 --> 01:15.120 Quite all right, sir. 01:15.120 --> 01:17.520 Now, let me see your Smith and your Sergeant Friday. 01:17.520 --> 01:18.520 Is that right? 01:18.520 --> 01:19.520 Sir, that's right. 01:19.520 --> 01:21.520 Well, I guess you know what the problem is. 01:21.520 --> 01:24.480 Well, I didn't get it quite clear on the phone, Mr. Elliott. 01:24.480 --> 01:26.480 When did this last thing come up? 01:26.480 --> 01:30.480 Well, the way we have it figured out, it must have happened around closing time yesterday, 01:30.480 --> 01:32.400 between 5 and 5.30, we figure. 01:32.400 --> 01:34.240 The store was crowded at that time, was it? 01:34.240 --> 01:35.280 Yes, pretty busy. 01:35.280 --> 01:37.720 We had a special pre-winter showing in the fur department. 01:37.720 --> 01:39.800 No one noticed it was gone until after we closed up. 01:39.800 --> 01:42.240 Can you give us a description of the piece of merchandise, Mr. Elliott? 01:42.240 --> 01:44.420 Yes, I've got it right here. 01:44.420 --> 01:49.160 Silver blue mink stole, satin lining, two slashed pockets, silver chain, fastener. 01:49.160 --> 01:50.440 Complete description of it for you. 01:50.440 --> 01:52.840 And those are the code numbers and serial numbers on it, are they? 01:52.840 --> 01:54.320 That's right. 01:54.320 --> 01:56.760 The whole thing's getting way out of hand, Sergeant. 01:56.760 --> 01:59.680 We've had a lot of things lifted from the store the last few weeks, but nothing this 01:59.680 --> 02:00.840 big. 02:00.840 --> 02:01.840 This keeps up. 02:01.840 --> 02:03.440 I don't see how we're going to get our insurance renewed. 02:03.440 --> 02:06.720 I guess your store detectives are working on this latest one, the missing fur, huh? 02:06.720 --> 02:09.040 Yes, but it's the same as all the other cases we've had. 02:09.040 --> 02:11.120 They haven't been able to find a thing. 02:11.120 --> 02:14.040 All the personnel have been checked, all the people who were around the department when 02:14.040 --> 02:15.040 the fur was stolen. 02:15.040 --> 02:17.120 I mean, those it was possible to check on. 02:17.120 --> 02:19.200 As far as we know, they're all clear. 02:19.200 --> 02:21.000 What were the circumstances of the thing, Mr. Elliott? 02:21.000 --> 02:23.520 I mean, was this mink stole on a display rack? 02:23.520 --> 02:24.520 Did one of the models have it on? 02:24.520 --> 02:25.520 Exactly how was it? 02:25.520 --> 02:27.320 Well, it was modeled, yes. 02:27.320 --> 02:30.400 After it was shown to several parties, it was put back in stock. 02:30.400 --> 02:34.240 We have a special rack for the stoles, regular enclosed cabinets, sliding doors on it. 02:34.240 --> 02:35.720 Cabinets usually open during store hours. 02:35.720 --> 02:36.720 I see. 02:36.720 --> 02:39.920 There was a store detective in the department at the time, all those sales people standing 02:39.920 --> 02:40.920 around. 02:40.920 --> 02:43.120 I can't understand why one of them didn't see it happen. 02:43.120 --> 02:46.800 Mr. Elliott, you say this is the first time an expensive item like this has been lifted 02:46.800 --> 02:47.800 from your store, huh? 02:47.800 --> 02:48.800 That's right. 02:48.800 --> 02:52.440 Like I said, we've had dozens of less expensive things disappear, everything from a 50-cent 02:52.440 --> 02:54.400 handkerchief to a $100 handbag. 02:54.400 --> 02:56.240 I suppose we might have expected it. 02:56.240 --> 02:58.920 I understand some of the other stores in the area have been hit pretty hard. 02:58.920 --> 02:59.920 Yes, sir. 02:59.920 --> 03:00.920 It's been the last eight weeks. 03:00.920 --> 03:03.880 Most of the stores for eight or ten blocks along Wilshire here, they seem to be getting 03:03.880 --> 03:04.880 the worst of it. 03:04.880 --> 03:08.640 We've got a special shoplifting detail working the area, staying as close to it as possible. 03:08.640 --> 03:11.640 I guess you know as well as I do we can't stay in business this way, Sergeant. 03:11.640 --> 03:13.920 There certainly must be some way to trap whoever's doing it. 03:13.920 --> 03:15.440 Well, we're doing everything possible, sir. 03:15.440 --> 03:17.360 We're trying to cover it as best we can for you. 03:17.360 --> 03:20.080 I think you'll agree just about the only way to reach the thieves is to grab them when 03:20.080 --> 03:21.760 they're actually stealing their things. 03:21.760 --> 03:24.680 Just isn't possible for our detail to cover every department in every store. 03:24.680 --> 03:26.280 Yes, you've got a point there. 03:26.280 --> 03:27.840 What about the known shoplifters in the city? 03:27.840 --> 03:29.240 You keep a file on them, don't you? 03:29.240 --> 03:30.240 Yes, sir, we do. 03:30.240 --> 03:32.440 There are half a dozen people we're keeping an eye on. 03:32.440 --> 03:35.080 We've got our stats office and our record bureau helping out. 03:35.080 --> 03:36.920 No definite lead so far, though. 03:36.920 --> 03:38.200 Certainly can't understand it. 03:38.200 --> 03:40.040 We've had one meeting of the store personnel already. 03:40.040 --> 03:42.280 Guess I'll have to call another one. 03:42.280 --> 03:44.320 We'll just have to be doubly careful, that's all. 03:44.320 --> 03:47.320 About the personnel, Mr. Elliott, you say there's been a check made on each one of them 03:47.320 --> 03:48.320 since this thing started? 03:48.320 --> 03:49.320 Yes, sir, that's correct. 03:49.320 --> 03:51.920 And there's no reason to be suspicious of any of your people at all, huh? 03:51.920 --> 03:55.460 Well, as a matter of fact, there is one, Sergeant, sales girl. 03:55.460 --> 03:59.140 She was up on five in the Sweet Sixteen shop, and she was moved down to cosmetics on the 03:59.140 --> 04:00.220 street floor. 04:00.220 --> 04:01.880 What is it that makes you suspicious of her? 04:01.880 --> 04:05.240 Well, before I say anything, I want to make it perfectly clear to you, we've never had 04:05.240 --> 04:08.320 any real proof that there was something wrong there. 04:08.320 --> 04:09.800 Dorothy started with us eight years ago. 04:09.800 --> 04:12.000 That's the girl's name, Dorothy Kirkman. 04:12.000 --> 04:14.260 She came to us right out of high school. 04:14.260 --> 04:17.640 She seemed to be doing all right, got along with the customers, dressed neatly, always 04:17.640 --> 04:18.640 on time. 04:18.640 --> 04:22.160 Then all of a sudden, this shoplifting started. 04:22.160 --> 04:24.760 We didn't think there was any connection at first, thought it was only a coincidence. 04:24.760 --> 04:26.320 Well, how do you mean, sir? 04:26.320 --> 04:29.180 Well, just for instance, wait a minute. 04:29.180 --> 04:31.560 I've got the file right here on the desk. 04:31.560 --> 04:34.080 Let's see, yeah, here it is. 04:34.080 --> 04:37.640 Out of the first fourteen items to disappear, six of them were out of Dorothy Kirkman's 04:37.640 --> 04:40.160 department, right out of her section. 04:40.160 --> 04:43.800 Cashmere sweaters, expensive blouses, scarves. 04:43.800 --> 04:47.640 As I say, at first we wrote it off to coincidence, but it kept recurring. 04:47.640 --> 04:51.320 Her section almost seemed to be the focal point of all the shoplifting. 04:51.320 --> 04:52.680 That was at the beginning, of course. 04:52.680 --> 04:55.160 Did you have the girl watched, Mr. Elliott, this Kirkman girl? 04:55.160 --> 04:56.160 Yes, we did. 04:56.160 --> 04:58.880 The department head kept an eye on her, and well, I guess Dorothy noticed it. 04:58.880 --> 05:00.120 She resented it quite a bit. 05:00.120 --> 05:04.840 That little spat with the head of the department, we thought it best for everyone if she transferred. 05:04.840 --> 05:06.920 So we had her move downstairs to cosmetics. 05:06.920 --> 05:09.040 How'd that arrangement work out? 05:09.040 --> 05:11.400 Well, for the first few weeks, fine. 05:11.400 --> 05:13.080 Then we started missing things out of cosmetics. 05:13.080 --> 05:15.720 A lot of it didn't amount to too much, a lot of it did. 05:15.720 --> 05:18.360 Makeup kits, expensive perfumes. 05:18.360 --> 05:21.360 This time we called her in, tried to talk to her about it in a nice way. 05:21.360 --> 05:22.680 She got very resentful. 05:22.680 --> 05:24.040 She denied knowing anything about it? 05:24.040 --> 05:25.480 Yes, she got very upset. 05:25.480 --> 05:27.540 Of course, there is one thing I will say. 05:27.540 --> 05:30.120 The items in cosmetics are on display all over the counter. 05:30.120 --> 05:32.760 It's fairly easy for anybody to pick them up. 05:32.760 --> 05:35.940 But the fact still remains, the stealing began in her department upstairs. 05:35.940 --> 05:39.320 She moves down to cosmetics, and all of a sudden the losses increase there. 05:39.320 --> 05:40.320 What would you figure? 05:40.320 --> 05:41.320 Yes, sir, I see what you mean. 05:41.320 --> 05:43.800 Well, if you could have somebody point out this Dorothy Kirkman for us, Mr. Elliott, 05:43.800 --> 05:45.240 I think maybe we'd better have a talk with her. 05:45.240 --> 05:46.240 I'd like to help you, Sergeant. 05:46.240 --> 05:47.240 I'm afraid that's not possible. 05:47.240 --> 05:48.400 Oh, how do you mean? 05:48.400 --> 05:56.080 She quit last Saturday. 05:56.080 --> 05:59.760 We got all the information available on Dorothy Kirkman from the store's personnel files, 05:59.760 --> 06:03.040 and then we called the office and gave them a description of the stolen fur. 06:03.040 --> 06:05.680 We asked them to check the Kirkman girl through R&I. 06:05.680 --> 06:09.040 We contacted the shoplifting detail out of forgery division and filled them in on the 06:09.040 --> 06:10.080 developments. 06:10.080 --> 06:12.380 She had no previous criminal record. 06:12.380 --> 06:15.400 Before we left the store, we went to the fur department, talked to all the salespeople 06:15.400 --> 06:18.920 concerned, but we were unable to come up with anything new regarding the theft of the silver 06:18.920 --> 06:26.120 bloom ink stole. 06:26.120 --> 06:28.320 We drove out to Dorothy Kirkman's last known address. 06:28.320 --> 06:30.160 She wasn't home, but her mother was. 06:30.160 --> 06:33.880 The mother told us that the day before, her daughter had started on a new job as a salesgirl 06:33.880 --> 06:35.680 at the House of Raymond. 06:35.680 --> 06:40.680 It was an exclusive shop specializing in all types of cosmetics. 06:40.680 --> 06:44.240 We checked the phone book and found the House of Raymond was located in the same 10-block 06:44.240 --> 06:47.640 stretch along Wilshire Boulevard where the shoplifting campaign was going on. 06:47.640 --> 06:51.120 It was one of the few places along there that the thieves hadn't bothered. 06:51.120 --> 06:55.280 It was three blocks from Anthony's store for women, the Kirkman girls' former place of 06:55.280 --> 06:56.280 employment. 06:56.280 --> 06:57.280 No, I don't mind telling you. 06:57.280 --> 06:58.840 I got sick and tired of being called a thief. 06:58.840 --> 06:59.840 That's why I quit Anthony's. 06:59.840 --> 07:01.680 A little of that goes a long way. 07:01.680 --> 07:04.560 You started work here at Raymond's yesterday, Miss Kirkman, is that right? 07:04.560 --> 07:05.560 Yeah, that's right. 07:05.560 --> 07:07.680 I think I'm gonna like it a lot better than Anthony's. 07:07.680 --> 07:10.840 While you were working here at Anthony's, ma'am, I suppose you heard quite a bit of shoplifting 07:10.840 --> 07:11.840 was going on. 07:11.840 --> 07:12.840 Yes, I knew about it. 07:12.840 --> 07:14.520 I guess every girl in the store knew about it. 07:14.520 --> 07:16.280 I had a big personnel meeting about it. 07:16.280 --> 07:18.080 Do you have any suspicions of your own, Miss Kirkman? 07:18.080 --> 07:19.080 How do you mean that? 07:19.080 --> 07:21.480 Well, I mean, was there anyone in particular you might have been a little bit suspicious 07:21.480 --> 07:22.480 of? 07:22.480 --> 07:23.480 Maybe one of the customers. 07:23.480 --> 07:26.760 No, I've waited on some real weird ones, but I didn't see any of them try to walk out with 07:26.760 --> 07:27.760 anything. 07:27.760 --> 07:29.720 All I knew was what Mr. Elliott told us at that meeting. 07:29.720 --> 07:32.080 Well, this might be an embarrassing question for you, Miss. 07:32.080 --> 07:33.640 We'd appreciate an honest answer. 07:33.640 --> 07:34.640 Yes. 07:34.640 --> 07:36.200 What about the sales girls you worked with? 07:36.200 --> 07:38.320 Any of them ever give you a cause to be suspicious? 07:38.320 --> 07:40.320 You mean, do I think any of them were doing the stealing? 07:40.320 --> 07:41.320 No. 07:41.320 --> 07:42.320 There were some of them I didn't like. 07:42.320 --> 07:45.120 I didn't trust them either, but I wouldn't accuse them of stealing. 07:45.120 --> 07:46.680 You could accuse anybody unless I had proof. 07:46.680 --> 07:48.840 It's the only thing I can say for some people I know. 07:48.840 --> 07:52.240 By any chance did you happen to be in Anthony's this past Monday? 07:52.240 --> 07:53.240 Monday? 07:53.240 --> 07:54.400 No, why do you ask? 07:54.400 --> 07:57.360 When you were working on the fifth floor up the street there at Anthony's, we understand 07:57.360 --> 08:00.720 that when the merchandise first started disappearing, a pretty good percentage of it was out of your 08:00.720 --> 08:01.720 section. 08:01.720 --> 08:02.720 That's what they told me, yes. 08:02.720 --> 08:05.880 And then when you were transferred downstairs to the cosmetics counter, quite a few things 08:05.880 --> 08:08.000 started disappearing from there. 08:08.000 --> 08:09.480 We'd like an honest answer, Miss Kirkman. 08:09.480 --> 08:11.800 Do you have any explanation at all for this? 08:11.800 --> 08:15.600 I'll tell you the same thing I told them at the store, Sergeant. 08:15.600 --> 08:18.200 I can't explain it, but I didn't have anything to do with it, believe me. 08:18.200 --> 08:21.240 Well, you'll have to admit, ma'am, it's pretty much a coincidence, isn't it? 08:21.240 --> 08:22.400 Call it whatever you want to. 08:22.400 --> 08:23.680 I didn't have anything to do with it. 08:23.680 --> 08:24.680 Yes, ma'am. 08:24.680 --> 08:29.000 The only thing I took home from that store was my paycheck. 08:29.000 --> 08:33.920 438 PM. 08:33.920 --> 08:36.920 We finished questioning the suspect, Dorothy Kirkman, and Frank and I went back to the 08:36.920 --> 08:40.400 office and made arrangements to have the girl kept under temporary surveillance. 08:40.400 --> 08:43.000 A bulletin had been gotten out on the missing fur stole. 08:43.000 --> 08:46.560 The pawn shop detail had been notified and a description of the fur had been placed on 08:46.560 --> 08:50.240 the stolen property list. 08:50.240 --> 08:54.000 The following day, along with officers Paul LePage, John Wood, and policewoman Gladys 08:54.000 --> 08:57.240 Young, we continued our investigation of the latest shoplifting complaints. 08:57.240 --> 08:58.440 It went slow. 08:58.440 --> 09:00.720 A lot of legwork and no progress. 09:00.720 --> 09:04.200 Like the dozens of other items of merchandise which had vanished in the last eight weeks, 09:04.200 --> 09:06.960 there wasn't a trace of the missing fur stole. 09:06.960 --> 09:10.600 Four men were added to the special detail on duty in the ten block area where the stealing 09:10.600 --> 09:12.120 was going on. 09:12.120 --> 09:15.800 Anyone in the city who'd ever served time for shoplifting was checked and rechecked. 09:15.800 --> 09:17.720 Constant surveillance was maintained. 09:17.720 --> 09:21.080 Over a half a dozen known thieves who we figured might be involved. 09:21.080 --> 09:24.760 It got us nothing. 09:24.760 --> 09:27.000 Wednesday August 23rd, 530 PM. 09:27.000 --> 09:28.000 No leads, no progress. 09:28.000 --> 09:31.000 We went back to the office. 09:31.000 --> 09:38.760 Hey, Joe, Skipper says it's going to rain before tomorrow. 09:38.760 --> 09:39.760 All right? 09:39.760 --> 09:40.760 Yeah. 09:40.760 --> 09:43.280 I hope I get home before six o'clock. 09:43.280 --> 09:46.080 I want to get out and see that shoe repairman in our neighborhood. 09:46.080 --> 09:47.080 All right, what's the matter? 09:47.080 --> 09:48.080 Oh, what a salesman. 09:48.080 --> 09:53.160 I went in there the other day and he says, Smith, you're an officer. 09:53.160 --> 09:54.160 You're on your feet all day. 09:54.160 --> 09:55.160 I said, yeah. 09:55.160 --> 09:59.160 He said, yep, you need some help with your feet. 09:59.160 --> 10:01.720 I said, Charlie, what do you mean I need help with my feet? 10:01.720 --> 10:03.680 He said, well, you're a cop. 10:03.680 --> 10:04.680 You're on your feet all the time. 10:04.680 --> 10:07.040 So I bought a pair of art supports. 10:07.040 --> 10:08.440 Oh, that's nice. 10:08.440 --> 10:10.680 He doesn't call them art supports, though. 10:10.680 --> 10:11.680 Got a new name for them. 10:11.680 --> 10:12.680 What's that? 10:12.680 --> 10:13.680 Methatarsal supports. 10:13.680 --> 10:14.680 Bone down here in your foot. 10:14.680 --> 10:15.680 Yeah, I know. 10:15.680 --> 10:16.680 Call them a, you know that? 10:16.680 --> 10:17.680 Yeah. 10:17.680 --> 10:18.680 Methatarsal. 10:18.680 --> 10:24.960 Well, he said, put one of them in your right shoe, you'll be all right. 10:24.960 --> 10:25.960 What was that again? 10:25.960 --> 10:27.240 He said, just wear one of them. 10:27.240 --> 10:29.120 Put it in my right shoe, I'll be all right. 10:29.120 --> 10:31.040 Well, how's it working out? 10:31.040 --> 10:32.040 Miserable. 10:32.040 --> 10:38.480 Feels like I'm walking around with my foot in a bucket. 10:38.480 --> 10:39.480 Burglary Friday. 10:39.480 --> 10:40.480 Oh, yeah, John. 10:40.480 --> 10:41.480 You did him? 10:41.480 --> 10:42.480 Where? 10:42.480 --> 10:43.480 When? 10:43.480 --> 10:44.480 Yeah. 10:44.480 --> 10:45.480 Okay. 10:45.480 --> 10:46.480 Yeah, thanks, boy. 10:46.480 --> 10:47.480 All right. 10:47.480 --> 10:48.480 Yeah? 10:48.480 --> 10:49.480 It's Wood. 10:49.480 --> 10:50.480 He thinks he might have something for us. 10:50.480 --> 10:51.480 Yeah. 10:51.480 --> 10:52.480 That mink fur. 10:52.480 --> 10:53.480 It's just been found. 10:53.480 --> 11:05.400 Two hours before, at approximately 3.30 PM in the main depot of the Santa Fe bus lines, 11:05.400 --> 11:10.320 a 38-year-old housewife of Mrs. Harriet Briggs noticed an unclaimed parcel lying on one of 11:10.320 --> 11:12.660 the benches in the depot waiting room. 11:12.660 --> 11:16.600 When it became apparent to Mrs. Briggs that the parcel was either lost or forgotten, she 11:16.600 --> 11:20.100 picked it up and took it to the clerk in charge of lost and found articles. 11:20.100 --> 11:23.640 After checking the package for some kind of identification, they discovered the silver-blue 11:23.640 --> 11:25.120 mink stole inside. 11:25.120 --> 11:29.140 A car was dispatched to pick up the fur, and it was identified as the garment taken from 11:29.140 --> 11:31.160 Anthony's fur salon. 11:31.160 --> 11:35.240 Mrs. Briggs volunteered to come along to the office to give what information she could. 11:35.240 --> 11:39.280 Bus depot officials were instructed to notify us in case anyone called for the package. 11:39.280 --> 11:40.880 5.50 PM. 11:40.880 --> 11:43.340 We interviewed Mrs. Briggs in the squad room. 11:43.340 --> 11:44.340 That's right, officer. 11:44.340 --> 11:46.480 It was just a little before 3.30. 11:46.480 --> 11:49.420 I was in the bus depot there waiting for my husband. 11:49.420 --> 11:52.960 That's when I first noticed this package lying on the bench just across from me. 11:52.960 --> 11:53.960 I see. 11:53.960 --> 11:55.200 Would you go on, please, Mrs. Briggs? 11:55.200 --> 11:59.260 I didn't think anything of it at first, and I went on reading the afternoon paper. 11:59.260 --> 12:00.600 But no one came for the package. 12:00.600 --> 12:02.400 It was just lying there. 12:02.400 --> 12:03.560 It was there a long time. 12:03.560 --> 12:04.720 How long would you say, ma'am? 12:04.720 --> 12:07.200 I mean, before you picked it up and took it to the lost and found clerk. 12:07.200 --> 12:11.560 Oh, I'd say 20 minutes, half an hour, that much at least. 12:11.560 --> 12:15.440 I left it with the young man at the counter there, and I told him I'd be back to see if 12:15.440 --> 12:16.720 anyone claimed it. 12:16.720 --> 12:22.240 Well, when I did get back, that's after I'd had dinner with my husband, Carl, we found 12:22.240 --> 12:24.280 out what was in the package. 12:24.280 --> 12:26.560 It's certainly strange. 12:26.560 --> 12:27.560 Don't you think, officer? 12:27.560 --> 12:28.560 Yes, ma'am. 12:28.560 --> 12:30.760 Did you happen to notice who it was that left the package there? 12:30.760 --> 12:35.840 Well, I'm not really sure, officer, but I think I know who it was. 12:35.840 --> 12:36.960 A short woman. 12:36.960 --> 12:40.420 She had a brown jacket, if I remember rightly. 12:40.420 --> 12:43.840 I think you'd say she was in her late 20s or early 30s. 12:43.840 --> 12:45.680 Have you ever seen this woman before, Mrs. Briggs? 12:45.680 --> 12:47.720 No, I never did. 12:47.720 --> 12:49.080 Very attractive. 12:49.080 --> 12:51.040 As I recall, she wore glasses. 12:51.040 --> 12:52.480 Anything else about her you might have noticed? 12:52.480 --> 12:53.480 Let me think. 12:53.480 --> 12:56.120 Oh, she had dark hair. 12:56.120 --> 12:57.920 Remember that much. 12:57.920 --> 12:58.920 Real pretty hair. 12:58.920 --> 13:02.040 And you're sure that this woman you described was the one who left the package there? 13:02.040 --> 13:05.360 Well, if I remember rightly, she was the only one that sat across from me. 13:05.360 --> 13:06.640 I guess it must be her. 13:06.640 --> 13:08.760 If it wasn't her, I don't know who else it could have been. 13:08.760 --> 13:10.240 All right, Mrs. Briggs, thank you very much. 13:10.240 --> 13:11.240 We appreciate it. 13:11.240 --> 13:12.720 That beautiful fur. 13:12.720 --> 13:16.120 I know that woman must be just sick about losing it. 13:16.120 --> 13:18.120 I certainly hope you find her, officer. 13:18.120 --> 13:19.120 Yes, ma'am. 13:19.120 --> 13:27.940 So do we. 13:27.940 --> 13:31.640 We had the stats office make a run for us on all females with shoplifting records who 13:31.640 --> 13:34.440 fitted the description of the woman who'd left the mink stole in the waiting room at 13:34.440 --> 13:35.860 the bus depot. 13:35.860 --> 13:38.800 We checked with the lost and found clerk at the depot, but he told us that no one had 13:38.800 --> 13:41.480 come back to report losing such a parcel. 13:41.480 --> 13:45.080 Together with LePage and Wood, we checked out the names on the list of known shoplifters 13:45.080 --> 13:48.840 which the stats office had made up for us, names of possible suspects who physically 13:48.840 --> 13:51.660 resembled the dark-haired woman seen at the depot. 13:51.660 --> 13:52.660 We got nowhere. 13:52.660 --> 13:57.060 Either they had ironclad alibis or they had since moved out of the city. 13:57.060 --> 14:04.240 We ran down every possible angle on the freak recovery of the missing fur stole. 14:04.240 --> 14:07.840 During the next 10 days, the case got more involved than it already was. 14:07.840 --> 14:11.720 Some of the stolen articles of new merchandise began showing up, but not through any of the 14:11.720 --> 14:13.380 channels we expected. 14:13.380 --> 14:16.440 Some of the items were found dumped in sidewalk refuse cans. 14:16.440 --> 14:19.320 Some were found in hotel lobbies, in the post office, in theaters. 14:19.320 --> 14:21.440 Some were found tossed in vacant lots. 14:21.440 --> 14:24.520 The only logical answer we could figure was that it was the work of somebody who was stealing 14:24.520 --> 14:38.600 for the love of stealing, a kleptomaniac. 14:38.600 --> 14:42.680 Tuesday September 4th, a 15-year-old girl in one of the exclusive residential neighborhoods 14:42.680 --> 14:47.240 reported finding two parcels containing women's clothing and expensive costume jewelry. 14:47.240 --> 14:49.120 They still had the price tags on them. 14:49.120 --> 14:51.560 Frank and I drove out to talk to the girl, a Patricia Denvers. 14:51.560 --> 14:54.120 Where'd you happen to find these things, Patricia? 14:54.120 --> 14:55.840 In the empty lot that's right down the block. 14:55.840 --> 14:57.200 I can show you. 14:57.200 --> 14:58.920 I was on my way home from the show. 14:58.920 --> 15:01.240 I brought the things home and showed them to my mother. 15:01.240 --> 15:03.400 She called the police. 15:03.400 --> 15:06.880 If nobody claims this package with the costume jewelry, can I keep it? 15:06.880 --> 15:07.880 It's certainly beautiful. 15:07.880 --> 15:08.880 I'm afraid not, Pat. 15:08.880 --> 15:09.880 We know who the things belong to. 15:09.880 --> 15:10.880 We're going to have to return them. 15:10.880 --> 15:12.640 Oh, I certainly don't understand that. 15:12.640 --> 15:13.640 How do you mean? 15:13.640 --> 15:16.000 Well, as far as I could see, she threw the things away. 15:16.000 --> 15:17.400 I thought she didn't want them. 15:17.400 --> 15:18.400 What do you mean, Pat? 15:18.400 --> 15:19.400 Who didn't want them? 15:19.400 --> 15:20.800 The lady who threw them in the empty lot. 15:20.800 --> 15:23.720 You saw who it was that threw those packages in the lot, did you? 15:23.720 --> 15:27.000 I was on my way home from the show, just like I told you. 15:27.000 --> 15:29.480 I could see this lady walking up ahead of me. 15:29.480 --> 15:31.600 She was about a block away, I guess. 15:31.600 --> 15:34.920 When she went by the lot, I saw her take these packages out from under her arm and toss them 15:34.920 --> 15:36.200 in the grass. 15:36.200 --> 15:37.680 She wouldn't do that if she wanted them, would she? 15:37.680 --> 15:39.240 Did you get a good look at this woman, Pat? 15:39.240 --> 15:40.740 Any idea what she looks like? 15:40.740 --> 15:41.740 She's a good-looking woman. 15:41.740 --> 15:43.760 Short, has beautiful dark hair. 15:43.760 --> 15:44.760 Her husband's a doctor. 15:44.760 --> 15:46.200 Well, then you know who she is. 15:46.200 --> 15:47.200 You've seen her before, huh? 15:47.200 --> 15:48.920 Well, I don't know her to talk to. 15:48.920 --> 15:50.200 I just see her around the neighborhood. 15:50.200 --> 15:52.000 Does she live around here, do you know? 15:52.000 --> 15:59.000 Right next door to my girlfriend. 15:59.000 --> 16:10.040 Tuesday, September 4th, 5.15 p.m. 16:10.040 --> 16:13.800 With the help of the 15-year-old girl, Patricia Denvers, we got the name and address of the 16:13.800 --> 16:17.240 woman who had been seen tossing the parcels of stolen merchandise into a vacant lot in 16:17.240 --> 16:18.800 the west end of the city. 16:18.800 --> 16:22.840 The woman was identified as a Mrs. Virginia Sterling, the wife of a Dr. Bruce Sterling, 16:22.840 --> 16:26.440 a fairly prominent young surgeon with offices in Beverly Hills. 16:26.440 --> 16:28.120 Mrs. Sterling and her husband had no children. 16:28.120 --> 16:31.840 They leased a richly furnished house in a residential section of the city that was considered 16:31.840 --> 16:37.120 better than upper middle class. 16:37.120 --> 16:41.000 We checked Virginia Sterling through R&I, but she had no previous criminal record. 16:41.000 --> 16:44.600 The next day, with officers LePage and Wood, we covered the various stores along Wilshire 16:44.600 --> 16:48.600 Boulevard that had been victimized in the recent shoplifting campaign. 16:48.600 --> 16:52.880 We found that Mrs. Sterling had charge accounts at almost every one of the stores. 16:52.880 --> 16:56.000 Generally speaking, we found her accounts in very good standing, and among the store 16:56.000 --> 16:59.840 people she was regarded as what is referred to as a fine customer, a good spender, a good 16:59.840 --> 17:01.360 credit risk. 17:01.360 --> 17:04.600 Right down to the Retail Credit Association, there was nothing but favorable reports on 17:04.600 --> 17:06.600 the woman. 17:06.600 --> 17:09.280 7.15 p.m. 17:09.280 --> 17:11.600 We drove out to the house of Dr. Sterling and his wife. 17:11.600 --> 17:13.440 Mrs. Sterling answered the door and invited us in. 17:13.440 --> 17:20.440 Would you like a drink? 17:20.440 --> 17:22.480 No, no thank you. 17:22.480 --> 17:24.520 No thanks, ma'am. 17:24.520 --> 17:26.640 I really don't know when the doctor will be back. 17:26.640 --> 17:27.960 He was called over to the hospital. 17:27.960 --> 17:30.280 Is there anything I could help you with? 17:30.280 --> 17:33.960 Well, as a matter of fact, Mrs. Sterling, we came out to talk to you, not your husband. 17:33.960 --> 17:34.960 Really? 17:34.960 --> 17:36.600 What is it you wanted to talk to me about, officer? 17:36.600 --> 17:39.960 Well, ma'am, we understand that you do quite a bit of your shopping along Wilshire Boulevard, 17:39.960 --> 17:41.840 in the downtown area, I mean. 17:41.840 --> 17:45.680 Yes, I shop downtown quite often, except for the problem of parking. 17:45.680 --> 17:46.680 I find it a lot more convenient. 17:46.680 --> 17:47.680 Why do you ask? 17:47.680 --> 17:50.400 Mrs. Sterling, do you do much of your shopping at Anthony's? 17:50.400 --> 17:52.200 I believe that's in the Wilshire downtown area. 17:52.200 --> 17:54.240 Yes, I do, for my sports clothes. 17:54.240 --> 17:55.920 They have a very good selection. 17:55.920 --> 17:56.920 Uh-huh. 17:56.920 --> 17:59.440 Do you remember if you were in Anthony's on the 22nd of last month? 17:59.440 --> 18:00.440 I believe that was a Tuesday. 18:00.440 --> 18:01.440 On a Tuesday? 18:01.440 --> 18:04.480 I don't think I could remember one way or the other. 18:04.480 --> 18:06.680 I really don't have any special day for shopping. 18:06.680 --> 18:08.840 I just go when I feel like it or when I need something. 18:08.840 --> 18:11.440 Have you ever been in the first salon at Anthony's, ma'am? 18:11.440 --> 18:12.720 Have you ever bought anything there? 18:12.720 --> 18:13.720 I suppose so. 18:13.720 --> 18:18.600 I've been in almost every department at Anthony's, one time or another. 18:18.600 --> 18:21.000 I can tell you, though, I've never bought any furs there. 18:21.000 --> 18:24.680 As I said, the main reason I go there at all is because of their sportswear. 18:24.680 --> 18:27.920 Would you tell me what this is all about, please? 18:27.920 --> 18:29.640 It's a routine investigation, ma'am. 18:29.640 --> 18:30.640 Wonder if you could tell us this. 18:30.640 --> 18:33.360 Do you have occasion to travel in the area by bus? 18:33.360 --> 18:34.360 By bus? 18:34.360 --> 18:38.480 No, I don't think I've been on a bus since I've been married. 18:38.480 --> 18:40.360 That'll be six years this coming December. 18:40.360 --> 18:42.560 And you've never been in the main bus depot downtown? 18:42.560 --> 18:44.240 No, I think I know where it is. 18:44.240 --> 18:45.240 I've driven past it. 18:45.240 --> 18:48.040 I've never been inside, though. 18:48.040 --> 18:49.040 Why should you want to know that? 18:49.040 --> 18:50.360 Well, we'll be honest with you, ma'am. 18:50.360 --> 18:52.120 It has to do with an investigation we're on. 18:52.120 --> 18:55.320 We've had a couple of reports that you were seen at the bus depot on August 23rd. 18:55.320 --> 18:56.320 That was a Wednesday. 18:56.320 --> 18:57.960 Reports came from pretty reliable people. 18:57.960 --> 19:00.120 Well, I certainly consider myself reliable. 19:00.120 --> 19:02.200 I say I've never been there. 19:02.200 --> 19:04.920 If you don't mind, I'd like some kind of explanation for this questioning. 19:04.920 --> 19:07.920 You mean you have no idea why we drove out here to talk to you? 19:07.920 --> 19:09.280 Of course not. 19:09.280 --> 19:11.440 Number one, I don't understand your questions at all. 19:11.440 --> 19:13.640 And number two, I'd like to know what they have to do with me. 19:13.640 --> 19:15.280 It has this to do with you, ma'am. 19:15.280 --> 19:18.760 Last August 23rd, a woman in a brown sports jacket answering your description left a package 19:18.760 --> 19:19.880 in the bus depot. 19:19.880 --> 19:22.400 The package contained a mink stole taken from Anthony's. 19:22.400 --> 19:25.200 The woman who left the package in the depot fits your description perfectly. 19:25.200 --> 19:26.200 Is that so? 19:26.200 --> 19:27.200 Well, that's a coincidence. 19:27.200 --> 19:28.200 Yes, ma'am, maybe. 19:28.200 --> 19:31.960 I suppose you've read in the papers about the big increase in shoplifting. 19:31.960 --> 19:35.440 Most of it's taking place right in the area where you say you do most of your shopping. 19:35.440 --> 19:37.400 We've checked out every single one of the cases, Mrs. Sterling. 19:37.400 --> 19:38.720 Took a long time. 19:38.720 --> 19:40.560 We found a dozen salespeople in those stores. 19:40.560 --> 19:43.040 Every one of them tells us you were around the particular store when the shoplifting 19:43.040 --> 19:44.040 took place. 19:44.040 --> 19:45.800 Law of average is, Mrs. Sterling. 19:45.800 --> 19:47.280 You show up too often in the reports. 19:47.280 --> 19:49.640 Would you please leave my house? 19:49.640 --> 19:50.640 Both of you, please. 19:50.640 --> 19:51.640 I'm sorry, Mrs. Sterling. 19:51.640 --> 19:52.880 I'm afraid you'll have to come along with us. 19:52.880 --> 19:53.880 What do you mean by that? 19:53.880 --> 19:56.840 Don't you know you can get in trouble making false accusations? 19:56.840 --> 19:58.440 I'm going to call my husband right now. 19:58.440 --> 19:59.440 Yes, ma'am. 19:59.440 --> 20:00.440 If you like, you're right ahead. 20:00.440 --> 20:09.440 Sergeant? 20:09.440 --> 20:27.240 Yes, ma'am. 20:27.240 --> 20:28.600 We've got your story, ma'am. 20:28.600 --> 20:31.960 Get up to this afternoon, you went shopping today, you stole things as usual. 20:31.960 --> 20:35.040 When you tried to get rid of them, you were seen right in this neighborhood. 20:35.040 --> 20:38.240 The vacant lot down at the next corner, you threw the stuff away there. 20:38.240 --> 20:39.240 Somebody saw you. 20:39.240 --> 20:43.280 They didn't know it was me. 20:43.280 --> 20:44.280 Yes, ma'am. 20:44.280 --> 20:49.920 They knew it was you. 20:49.920 --> 20:54.600 9.35 p.m. 20:54.600 --> 20:57.360 We got in the car and drove Mrs. Sterling downtown to the city hall. 20:57.360 --> 21:01.440 We took her to the squad room, called a police stenographer, and we began to take her complete 21:01.440 --> 21:02.440 statement. 21:02.440 --> 21:05.800 One of the first things she did was to admit full responsibility for the series of shopliftings 21:05.800 --> 21:08.220 which had been going on for over two months. 21:08.220 --> 21:11.960 She told us that her kleptomania, the urge to steal things, had started with her as far 21:11.960 --> 21:14.240 back as her junior high school years. 21:14.240 --> 21:18.440 She admitted as a girl she stole books, tablets, pencils, pieces of chalk, and as she grew 21:18.440 --> 21:20.580 older, it seemed to get more serious with her. 21:20.580 --> 21:24.160 It carried over into her college years, and that's when her stealing first got her into 21:24.160 --> 21:25.160 trouble. 21:25.160 --> 21:28.560 It was when I joined this sorority. 21:28.560 --> 21:31.960 It was just like high school. 21:31.960 --> 21:32.960 I was all alone. 21:32.960 --> 21:37.160 Oh, we had a lot of clever girls in our house. 21:37.160 --> 21:38.480 Some of them were smart. 21:38.480 --> 21:40.880 Some of them were pretty. 21:40.880 --> 21:44.800 All of them seemed to be doing something except me. 21:44.800 --> 21:47.160 I had to prove it to them, I guess. 21:47.160 --> 21:51.560 I had to prove it to myself that I was smart, too. 21:51.560 --> 21:52.560 I see. 21:52.560 --> 21:55.280 And you figured that taking things was the best way to prove that? 21:55.280 --> 21:57.280 Yes, I suppose so. 21:57.280 --> 22:00.800 Of course, it wasn't easy, you know. 22:00.800 --> 22:04.720 The awful part was I got caught one day. 22:04.720 --> 22:07.680 It's kind of a relief in a way. 22:07.680 --> 22:11.560 I mean, how could they know I was just as smart as they were if they didn't find out 22:11.560 --> 22:12.560 what I was doing? 22:12.560 --> 22:15.560 Did you stay on at college after that, Mrs. Sterling? 22:15.560 --> 22:16.560 No. 22:16.560 --> 22:19.000 I couldn't after that. 22:19.000 --> 22:24.200 They voted me out of the sorority and there wasn't anything to do but leave. 22:24.200 --> 22:25.200 So I left. 22:25.200 --> 22:26.200 What happened after that? 22:26.200 --> 22:29.920 I went to New York and stayed with an aunt I have there. 22:29.920 --> 22:30.920 I got a job. 22:30.920 --> 22:34.000 I had several jobs. 22:34.000 --> 22:35.880 Same thing came up again. 22:35.880 --> 22:38.520 I lost two of the jobs. 22:38.520 --> 22:40.360 Same thing over again. 22:40.360 --> 22:42.120 I just couldn't help it. 22:42.120 --> 22:52.680 It always means so much to me, taking things, not being caught, getting away, getting away. 22:52.680 --> 22:56.960 Things I took, they never meant anything to me. 22:56.960 --> 22:57.960 Nothing. 22:57.960 --> 23:04.160 It's just taking them and not having anyone know. 23:04.160 --> 23:05.160 That's all that was important. 23:05.160 --> 23:08.040 And the stealing went on, I mean after you were married? 23:08.040 --> 23:09.040 No. 23:09.040 --> 23:11.040 No, not at first. 23:11.040 --> 23:13.560 I guess maybe a year or two. 23:13.560 --> 23:17.400 We were very happy, Bruce and I. 23:17.400 --> 23:24.160 Then he got busy, came out here and began to build his practice. 23:24.160 --> 23:27.520 I didn't see as much of him. 23:27.520 --> 23:29.080 We both wanted children. 23:29.080 --> 23:31.640 We wanted them very much. 23:31.640 --> 23:35.120 There weren't any. 23:35.120 --> 23:38.240 Bruce began to spend more time away from home. 23:38.240 --> 23:42.120 It was just like before. 23:42.120 --> 23:44.720 Same thing. 23:44.720 --> 23:46.280 I wasn't important. 23:46.280 --> 23:52.400 I was all alone again. 23:52.400 --> 23:56.840 There wasn't anybody. 23:56.840 --> 23:59.840 You know what I mean, don't you, Sergeant? 23:59.840 --> 24:00.840 Yes, ma'am. 24:00.840 --> 24:06.240 There ought to be an answer someplace. 24:06.240 --> 24:09.600 There isn't anything worse than being alone. 24:09.600 --> 24:14.160 There has to be an answer someplace. 24:14.160 --> 24:36.080 There is, but you won't find it in jail. 24:36.080 --> 24:40.440 On December 9th, trial was held in Department 88, Superior Court of the State of California 24:40.440 --> 24:43.000 in and for the County of Los Angeles. 24:43.000 --> 24:50.960 In a moment, the results of that trial. 24:50.960 --> 24:56.720 The suspect was tried and convicted on three counts of grand theft, the terms to run concurrently. 24:56.720 --> 25:00.800 Grand theft is punishable by imprisonment in the state penitentiary for not less than 25:00.800 --> 25:24.560 one, nor more than ten years. 25:24.560 --> 25:49.920 The verdict is put. 26:19.920 --> 26:44.720 Ladies and gentlemen, the story you are about to see is true. 26:44.720 --> 26:55.640 The names have been changed to protect the innocent.